Being on a dating app as one of the most recognized women in the world is far from ideal.
That’s why Nicola Coughlan left it to her Derry Girls co-star and close friend Louisa Harland to play Cupid when it comes to her love life and put her in touch with someone.
And Louisa, 31, hit the mark after introducing the Bridgerton actress, 37, to her best friend and Renegade Nell co-star Jake Dunn.
After months of hiding the budding relationship, Nicola and Jake, 24, finally confirmed their romance on Wednesday night after they were spotted returning home hand in hand from a trip to a pub in north London.
Friends of the couple told MailOnline: “They are absolutely in love with each other and have so much fun together.” Despite their busy schedules, they have adapted very easily to each other’s lives since they share such a large group of mutual friends.
Nicola Coughlan and Jake Dunn finally confirmed their romance on Wednesday night after they were spotted returning home hand in hand from a trip to a pub in north London.
Nicola was seen snuggling up to Renegade star Nell as they walked home together.
Jake, who graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama last year, has appeared in projects alongside Nicola’s Derry Girls co-stars Louisa Harland and Dylan Llewellyn, 32.
Like Nicola, the London-born actor also starred in a period drama, Disney’s Renegade Nell, alongside Louisa.
The source added: “When Derry Girls ended Nicola, Dylan and Louisa remained best friends and always supported each other in their careers, so it made sense for Nicola to meet Jake.”
While still at drama school, Jake was cast in Channel 4’s Big Boys alongside Dylan and was written by Jack Rooke, who is a close friend of Nicola’s.
The group of friends are very supportive of each other’s work and are often seen hanging out in north-west London, where Nicola has a house in the trendy Stoke Newington area.
In September, Jake posted an Instagram of Jack, 31, in a pub wearing a baseball cap that said Nicola Coughlan, paired with a T-shirt that said: “And her perfect boobs.”
Louisa was also pictured wearing a baseball cap that read: ‘Shady Whistledown’, a nod to Jake’s Bridgerton girlfriend character Penelope Featherington, who is the mysterious Lady Whistledown.
Nicola and Jake pictured cuddling as they walked home to the pub.
The couple were photographed holding hands while having a cozy date at an Irish bar.
Nicola’s character in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton is Penelope Featherington, who is unmasked as the mysterious Lady Whistledown.
The couple was first seen together in March when posing for an Instagram Story shared by one of Jake’s Renegade Nell co-stars.
In August, the couple was seen at London’s All Points East festival holding each other while dancing, but their relationship was not confirmed.
MailOnline can reveal the couple enjoyed a summer with their network of close friends attending festivals, drinking Guinness and playing Scrabble at Nicola’s local pub in Stoke Newington.
Two weeks ago, the couple was spotted in New York at a taping of the late-night comedy show SNL, with one viewer saying: “Her boyfriend stood by her proudly as people continued to flock to her like fans.”
While the Irish actress from Galway, 37, has been on the acting circuit for over ten years and found her big break on Channel 4 show Derry Girls, Jake is fresh out of drama school.
But the handsome British actor landed the lead role in a Disney series, Renegade Nell, with a second series commissioned around him, several stage shows, a Netflix series and a feature film, all while still at drama school.
As a rising star in the industry, Jake has a host of famous friends, including the likes of The Trial of Christine Keeler’s Ellie Bamber and Sex Education’s Connor Swindell.